Tag Archives: 2002

2002 Nissan Sentra Spec V (389)

21-03-2002Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week I tested the Nissan Sentra Spec V. I have a friend who’s in her second Toyota Corolla and she loves the 2000 model as much as she did the ten year old one she replaced. They are such basic cars and low cost to buy and operate there is little to complain about.

And if your thing is to pour your money into something other than transportation, these compact cars are wonderful. They are not showy but they are so capable with today’s technological advancements that you really will be surprised at every facet of performance.

It is a lot of transportation car for the money, but I have driven all of the competition and they are, for the most part, neck and neck with each other. But I still rank them overall considering price and features, comfort and styling as noted in the listing below with the rank in parenthesis.

My biggest complaint was that it was not very comfortable on the road for prolonged driving. After a short time I was in agony because I just couldn’t get the adjustment right. The VW New Beetle was so bad I would rank it at the bottom just for that reason. In that case it wasn’t adjustment but just poorly designed seats. They should take both designers out and shoot them.

General Info:

Parts – not Published.

Assembly – Mexico

Class: Compact

Nissan Cars: Altima, Frontier, Maxima, Pathfinder, Quest, Sentra, Xterra

Handling & Performance:

Sport suspension gives it a stiff feel and annoying bone jarring bottoming out over dips and ruts in the road. But that is what gives it the great handling. It really is ok around town. It is very faaaaaast with 0-60 at just over 7 seconds. Very impressive.

Styling:

Good. Plain Jane, but that’s ok for this class and price of car.

Fit and Finish:

As always, Japanese cars pay close attention to detail. However this is assembled in Mexico. I don’t like stereotypes, but growing up in Southern California and visiting Mexico on several occasions with one of my best friend in my youth who was Mexican I developed some healthy doubts about the quality of Mexican workmanship. That was a long time ago and in those days Mexican quality was better than any Asian product. In any case I noticed nothing to support my prejudice. In fact I didn’t know it was assembled in Mexico until I looked at the paperwork in preparation for this review. Old opinions are hard to change, eh.

Conveniences:

Typical for the price range.

Cost:

Priced in the middle of this large field on competitors.

Consumer Recommendation:

Test drive in order of ranking, as you need to, but take three first. #1, #7 and #15 for example will give you a range.

The Competition:

(2) Nissan Sentra Spec V $12-17,000, (1) Toyota Corolla $13-15,000, (3) Ford Focus $12-17,000, (4) Honda Civic $13-21,000, (5) Mitsubishi Mirage $12-15,000, (6) Dodge Neon $12-16,000, (7) Saturn SL $11-14,000, (8) Daewoo Nubira $12-14,000, (9) Kia Sephia $11-12,000, (10) Kia Spectra $11-14,000, (11) Hyundai Elantra $12-14,000, (12) Mazda Protégé $13-16,000, (13) Chevrolet Cavalier $14-20,000, (14) Volkswagen Jetta $17-27,000, (15) Subaru Impreza $19-24,000.

Good News:

Priced well, sporty, good gas stats, powerful and fun to drive.

Bad News:

Plain Jane styling, uncomfortable on long trips, no ABS or traction control.

Standard Equipment:

2.5 liter 175 horsepower inline 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual trans, power disc brakes, power steering, front stabilizer bars, 17 inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, power mirrors, air conditioning, 5 passenger seating, leather wrapped steering wheel, tilt steering, remote keyless entry, power widows and door locks, audio system with CD player, Cruise control, dual air bags.

Gas Stats:

22 City and 28 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $16,999.

2002 Mazda Protégé 5 (388)

13-03-2002Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week I had a chance to drive the New to the US Market, Mazda Protégé 5. Ok, not something I’d run out to buy, but it does appeal to the younger set. Low rider comes to mind. Not to be confused with “Easy Rider”. Anyway, it is an interesting compact economy car that has that modified look.

The low slung feel reminds me of the very popular Chevy Xtreme pickup truck. You know, the S10 Yuppie truck that had a makeover in East L.A.

In my youth I spent a reasonable amount of time in the “Hood” as it is referred to these days. Where “Homies” experience the same adolescent fears young people do everywhere in the world. The media is always telling us about those drive by’s, so it’s apparent you don’t have to go to the middle east to get shot at. Surely this past year has shown us we’re not so different from any third world country in too many ways. People will be people and kids will be kids and politicians will continue to be fools.

But on a serious note, the fact of the matter is that “Boom Boxes” probably kill more people than gangs or other terrorists. And even more sobering is that more people really do die in auto accidents than all those other forms of man made disasters combined. On a heavily traveled holiday weekend it isn’t uncommon for 500 or more to die on the highway and we seldom hear much about that.

Of course that speaks volumes about the need for better driver education in America. Surely Europeans are far better drivers, for example, where it is serious business who will be awarded the right to drive on the highways there. Europeans do believe it is a privilege as much as we in America believe it is our constitutional right to own and operate a car. We grew up knowing it was as we were convinced driving was better than mass transit. But when you follow the “Green” (money) US drivers have been lead down the primrose path by the folks who gain from tire, rubber and gasoline sales. Folks who were around in the Southern California area know there were many miles of tracks for public transportation that were torn up in favor of more cars and more roads. Now that we\’ve totally saturated the freeways the tracks are going back in. Don\’t you just hate to be manipulated!

Now that we depend on cars as our only means of \”realistic\” transportation gas companies raise prices you are helpless to do anything about. And to add insult to injury the public sector jumps in to rip off the public as well. When cities and states need to offset spending excesses they simply instruct our Men in Blue, (the Gestapo) to hit the streets to remind us that, “Driving is a Privilege” and not a right. Speed limits are maintained artificially low for today\’s advanced high tech cars to make it easier to shear the sheep. They even make it easy on you by allowing you to pay this (obscene hidden tax) by mail. Don\’t get me started, I\’m angry.

Well there is one way to fight back, and that is to buy less expensive cars that are also easier on gas consumption. This Mazda Protégé 5 is one of those cars.

General Info:

Parts – 93% Japan, 2% US/Canada; engine & trans / Japan

Assembly – Hiroshima, Japan

Class: Compact Mazda

Cars: 626, Millennia, MPV, MX-5 Miata, Protégé, Tribute, Truck.

Handling & Performance:

Racing type suspension and that stiff ride signals better handling. 130 horsepower is a bit underpowered but adequate in most situations. Load it with 5 average sized people and a little luggage and you’ll be dragging a bit as that little 4-cylinder tugs noisily along.

Styling:

The “5” in Protégé 5 stands for 5 doors. Hatchback is another variation on the same theme but this is more like a Wagon, which to me seems incongruous with the young market this car seeks to attract.

Fit and Finish:

Mazda is typically Japanese in quality workmanship. The Japs continue to lead since defeating the Yanks in Detroit where Cadillac once defined what the “Best” was. Oddly enough the term still remains as a definition for excellence.

Conveniences:

Sparse.

Cost:

Top of the range for this car.

Consumer Recommendation:

More conventional buyers will want to look at the competition noted below, all of which I’ve tested and I like better than this Protégé 5.

Manufacturer Recommendations:

Waiting until other small wagons were introduced in the US market was a good plan. But the sporty attempt may be too radical. The low rider thing doesn’t work for me. It will be interesting to see how it sells here in America.

The Competition:

Ford Focus $17-18,000, Saturn SW $14,290, Subaru Impreza Wagon $17-23,000, Suzuki Esteem Wagon $14-17,000, Volkswagen Jetta Wagon $18-27,000.

Good News:

Affordably priced, sporty, utility wagon features, good gas stats.

Bad News:

Radical styling.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter 130 horsepower inline 4-cylinder engine, 5-speen manual trans, dual air bags, 5 passenger seating, fog lamps, front wheel drive, remote keyless entry, power windows and door locks, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, tilt wheel, dual power mirrors, 4-wheel disc brakes, power steering.

Gas Stats:

25 City and 31 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $18,500.

2002 Mitsubishi Diamante Sedan (386)

27-02-2002Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week’s Mitsubishi is the Diamante LS 4-door Sedan that is totally impressive. If anything is wrong with buying this sedan is that it lacks the prestigious nameplate of BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and the like. But it is every bit as good in my opinion.

And when you price compare, you’ll agree this is worth a test drive along with all those other snooty names.

Handling & Performance:

Wonderful. Front wheel drive and traction control helps driver to stay out of trouble in the turns.

Styling:

Beautifully designed that includes a sleek body that translates to a .28 coefficient of drag.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent.

Conveniences:

Loaded for bear.

Cost:

Best of the bunch. It is very well priced. I can only speculate that Mitsubishi prices its SUV as high or higher than the competition because it is such a popular vehicle class. While they have aggressively priced this Diamante, I don’t think they thought it would be as appealing as I think it will be. Perhaps the cheaper assembly labor in Australia accounts for the lower price.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you are in the market for a Sedan I suggest you run, don’t walk to the nearest Mitsubishi dealer and test drive this car. Very impressive and with the pricing you can’t go wrong.

Manufacturer Recommendations:

Don’t read my comments to the consumer.

The Competition:

Acura TL $29-33,000, Audi A4 $25-33,000, BMW 3-Series $27-42,000, Chrysler 300M $28-32,000, Infiniti I 30 $30-32,000, Lexus ES 300 $31,505, Lincoln LS $33-41,000, Mazda Millenia $28-32,000, Saab 9-3 $28-45,000.

Good News:

Extremely well priced, great styling, solid, comfortable family sedan.

Bad News:

Resale is bound to be lower than more prestigious nameplates, but that is good news for used car buyers, eh.

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter V6 205 horsepower engine, 4-speed auto trans, dual front airbags, child safety locks, anti-theft engine immobilizer, power steering, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, climate control air conditioning, stereo with CD player, steering wheel audio controls, power windows/locks and mirrors, cruise control, remote keyless entry, power driver’s seat, leather, leather steering wheel, wood grain trim, auto headlights, power glass sunroof.

Gas Stats:

18 City and 25 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $28,447.

2002 Mitsubishi Montero Limited 4X4 (385)

20-02-2002Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week’s Mitsubishi Montero Limited 4-wheel drive took me home from Los Angeles International Airport on my return from Portland where I tested the VW New Beetle. I felt I was “stylin” when I stepped into this familiar SUV. It made the ride through downtown Los Angeles almost bearable.

From the Pacific Northwest to the pits of LA, is a culture shock. But I’ve lived in the LA area since, oh my God, has it been that long? Thinking back, they still had dirt roads in the Pasadena area where I grew up.

Anyway, I guess the reason we justify spending so much money on cars is that we have to spend so much time in them. In this case, for the comfort and driving pleasure of this Montero you are going to pay dearly.

General Info:

Parts – 99% Japan, 1% US/Canada

Assembly – Minokamo, Japan

Class: Special Purpose / SUV

Mitsubishi Cars: Diamante, Eclipse, Galant, Lancer, Mirage, Montero

Handling & Performance:

Solid ride and confident handling. This is one hunk of metal that is worth its salt but at a price that may gag you. Lots of power and at the top of its class. And you can bet you’ll pay for that power at the pumps. The gas stats are abysmal and perhaps my biggest pet peeve, if you hadn’t noticed.

Styling:

Bulky look and very pretty. This surely has the look and feel of a top of the line SUV.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent. Mitsubishi has come a long way over the years in spite of the bad news of scary roll over test results.

Conveniences:

This is loaded with a lot of gadgets and goodies that we have come to appreciate to the point of being necessities in today’s world. I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it here that with the advent of a glut of high tech electronics priced so well it is foolish for manufacturers to leave anything to options. The cost of labor is just too high to have to have variations on the same theme.

Cost:

Too much. All the gadgets can’t justify the price. And yes, I agree, all the others in this class are pricey too. And it isn’t the fault of the manufacturer. How can they be blamed for our love of SUV’s? And if you add climate control, rear air and heater and power passenger seat you’ll add $1,200 to the MSRP below.

Consumer Recommendation:

Buy an SUV if you must, but unless you need 4-wheel drive don’t, I repeat, don’t buy it with 4-WD. In most conditions for normal driving you will never need it. Yes, if you’re in the out back, on a farm or very rural areas of the world you may need it often. Consider where you live and be realistic. You’ll save weight, maintenance problems and gas consumption.

Alternate to the SUV for most applications is a Mini Van. They do the same thing but no off road capability. Like you’re going to need to get off road! Not likely, unless you’re on e of the 5% who do.

Manufacturer Recommendations:

Getting to the moon was tough; getting better gas performance out of an SUV appears to be impossible. There must be a way I keep telling myself. Carmakers should be able to figure this out. And come on guys; include all those electronics at a fraction of the price you charge. They simply don’t cost all that much.

The Competition:

BMW X5 $39-66,000, Dodge Durango $25-37,000, Ford Explorer $21-35,000 GMC Envoy $29-34,000, Isuzu Trooper $28-37,000, Jeep Grand Cherokee $25-37,000, Land Rover Discovery $33-37,000, Mercedes Benz M-Class $36-66,000, Nissan Pathfinder $27-31,000, Oldsmobile Bravada $32-35,000, Toyota Land Cruiser $52,595.

Good News:

Great warranty, comfortable, nice styling.

Bad News:

Very pricey and terrible gas mileage.

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter V6 200 horsepower engine, 5-speed auto trans with over drive, dual front and side airbags, child safety locks, anti-theft engine immobilizer, active trac 4-wheel drive, Ltd slip differential, power steering, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, air conditioning, stereo with CD player, power windows/locks and mirrors, cruise control, remote keyless entry, 2nd row 60/40 split fold down seats, 3rd row stowable seat, power driver’s seat, leather, wood and leather steering wheel, heated front seats/mirrors, wood grain interior trim, 16” alloy wheels, power glass sunroof, roof rails, spare tire locking cover.

Gas Stats:

14 City and 19 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $35,797.

2002 VW New Beetle Turbo S (384)

13-02-2002Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week I’m reflecting on my week in the Pacific Northwest in a Volkswagen Beetle Turbo S. How sweet it is, Jackie Gleason used to say. And I must admit, this is a pretty impressive little car that is more Porsche than VW in my opinion. In fact, most of the production is sold in Europe where consumers don’t view the New Beetle as a super simple, basic economy car as we do in this country.

But this car is truly at home on the autobahn fast lane along with Mercedes, Audi and BMW. I, like lots of folks out there, have owned a VW sometime in their lives. If like me this car helped get you through college. But even after college I found it was also good for my then young family when we bought a 1970 model. It was solid and light-years ahead of the 1960’s vintage that got me through school. Today’s New Beetle is so far advanced over either of those it is a contradiction to the name it bears.

General Info:

Parts – 30% Germany 30% Mexico 12% U.S. & Canadian

Assembly – Puebla, Mexico

Class: Sub-Compact

Volkswagen Cars: Cabrio, Eurovan, Golf, Jetta, Beetle, Passat.

Handling & Performance:

Hold on to your hat. This is going to be “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”. Remember when Disneyland had different tickets? Well this would be an “E” Ticket with a turbo that jerks the steering wheel in your hand when it kicks in. The electronic stabilization program works well in helping the driver stay out of trouble. An error warning light accompanies the engine and braking assist for demanding maneuvers. This is usually only found on more expensive cars. The speedometer goes to 160 but it is electronically governed for a max 130 mph.

Styling:

You either love it or hate it. Sure it looks like VW of yesteryear but with today’s technology. Each year they give it a nicer, sleeker and sporty looking car that is breaking out of the traditional VW Beetle I grew up with.

Fit and Finish:

Really quite good in spite of the stereotype “Made in Mexico” conjures up. But, it is only assembled in Mexico and most of the components, particularly the engine and transmission for example are made in Germany. In any case they still have a good work ethic there and do a good job putting the pieces of the puzzle together. Southern Californian’s will remember when the hot ticket was to go get your car “Tuck and Rolled” in Tijuana, Mexico?

Conveniences:

VW Beetles (Bugs) were skimpily equipped in the “Good?” old days. Of course that’s when men were men and you didn’t need no heat or air conditioning. Well, the truth is we simply weren’t spoiled yet. Today’s New Beetle is equipped with everything you’d ever want included as standard equipment.

Cost:

Not bad for how this car handles and how well equipped it is, but after you replace the horrid seats the cost may be high than you’d like.

Consumer Recommendation:

I hate to say it, but I wouldn’t buy this car for one important reason. The seats are terribly uncomfortable, especially on a long trip.

Manufacturer Recommendations:

Whoever designed the seats should be taken out and shot. Vee have vays of getting better seats, and buying a different car is one way.

The Competition:

Ford Focus $12-18,000, Honda Civic $13-21,000, Hyundai Tiburon $14,000, Mitsubishi Eclipse $18-26,000, Saturn SC $13-16,000, Subaru Impreza $19-24,000, Toyota Celica $17-22,000, Toyota Corolla $13-15,000, Toyota Echo $10-11,000.

Good News:

Faster’n snot, smooth ride and fun to drive, great warranty and roadside assistance that is standard along with an impressive list including leather and sun roof.

Bad News:

Horribly uncomfortable seats after a short 30 miles or so, premium gas required, limited production said to be only 5,000 for 2002 out of 55,000 being built.

Standard Equipment:

1.8 liter 180 horsepower 20 valve 4-cylinder turbo charged engine, 6-speed manual trans, front wheel drive, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, power steering, speed activated rear spoiler, electronic stabilization program (ESP), fog lights, dual front and side airbags, immobilizer anti-theft system, leather, power heated mirrors, stereo with cassette, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, cruise control, glass power sun roof, and remote keyless entry.

Gas Stats:

23 City and 30 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $23,400.

2002 Mitsubishi Lancer 4-door Sedan LS (381)

23-01-2002Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer 4-door Sedan LS, and I have to tell you this is a sweet little car. It’s considered a compact but a bigger feel even though only 4 inches longer than the Mirage, which it will likely replace.

Since I drive so many cars I go mostly from overall first impression feel just as you would do when you test-drive a car. As you can imagine most cars today have all the same high technology knowledge and components are relatively inexpensive. Therefore, when you buy a car, demand it has all the bells and whistles because manufacturers are smarter to give them all and not have options. This is getting more common but still not the absolute norm.

General Info:

Parts – 97% Japan

Assembly – Kurashiki, Japan

Class: Compact

Mitsubishi Cars: Diamante, Eclipse, Galant, Lancer, Mirage, Montero and Montero Sport.

Handling & Performance:

I slipped right into this car and hit the road running. All controls are smooth albeit the steering is a little light. You’re not going to enter any road races, but you can drive to any of them comfortably and economically. If you like the car and want more power, Mitsubishi is considering a special version in 2003 with a 230 horsepower 4-cylinder engine built for World Rally Championship competition. Let me know and I’ll get a message to the company.

Styling:

Cookie cutter, not so exciting, won’t turn heads, but who cares? This is a nice small sedan for us real people. The interior is stand out in design in this price range car.

Fit and Finish:

Usual and expected. No rattles, feels tight. I hate when there are little squeaks.

Conveniences:

Very good for the dough. Mirrors fold for those tight parking spaces.

Cost:

Good for all the standard features. Donald Trump will want to know about this economical car to drive to his private jet.

Consumer Recommendation:

Test drive and demand all the bells and whistles for what you’d expect to pay for a stripped down model. Why, because we’re the consumer and we have the power to change what we’re offered by all consumer product makers.

Manufacturer Recommendations:

1. Put knobs back on the radios and make them large enough for anyone to see. 2. Thanks to Mitsubishi for including all the features for an affordable price. 3. Generally, keep high tech to a reasonable level. Example: if you have to press buttons in five sequential steps just to find out what time it is, put a $5.00 clock in the dash, dah!

The Competition:

Chevrolet Prizm $14-16,000, Dodge Neon $12-16,000, Ford Focus $12-18,000, Honda Civic $13-17,000, Hyundai Elantra $12-14,000, Kia Sephia $11-12,000, Mazda Protégé $13-16,000, Nissan Sentra $12-17,000, Saturn SL $11-13,000, Subaru Impreza $19-24,000, Suzuki Esteem $13-14,000, Toyota Corolla $13,000, VW Golf $15-18,000.

Good News:

Comfortable and quiet, good gas stats, Japanese quality.

Bad News:

Cookie cutter plain wrap styling. Standard equipment doesn’t include anti-lock braking or side air bags and they are not even optional on other models, I know Japan didn’t put a man on the moon, but you’d think they could figure out how to have the rear windows roll down all the way.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter inline 4-cylinder 120 horsepower engine, 4-speed auto trans, power front disc rear drum brakes, dual front airbags, child safety locks and latch system, power steering, 4-wheel independent suspension, air conditioning, stereo with CD player, power windows, door locks and mirrors, remote keyless entry, cruise control, tilt steering, 8-way adjustable driver seat.

Gas Stats:

24 City and 30 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $15,897.

2002 Isuzu Axiom (380)

16-01-2002Autolove No comments

Overview:

This weeks flavor is the Isuzu Axiom for 2002. Naturally, if you’re inquisitive you’re probably wondering what the name means. Well, out of about 50,000 entries into a naming contest in 1999, an engineer won for his suggestion because of its definition of “a self-evident truth”.

What is self-evident is that now more trucks are sold in America than cars. And people don’t seem to care about the gas guzzling nature of this half truck, half car mode of transportation. Just when I thought gas prices were out of control, the government steps in to put pressure on the gas companies after the disaster of Sept. 11^th. Good for us, but it only begs the issue that we’ll have to pay the piper sooner or later. Personally I wouldn’t want to be stuck with a car that gets such lousy gas mileage. Obviously I’m alone in this thinking.

Handling & Performance:

I was pleasantly surprised at how nice a handling SUV it is. When you put your foot in it the power is there at 230 horsepower, which is at the top end of the competition noted below. Zero to 60 is a respectable 8 seconds.

Styling:

Opinion will be wide and varied when it comes to how it looks. Perhaps a little odd would be the answer from some based on the queer looks I got driving it around town. I don’t believe it is as far out as the Pontiac Aztek, but it isn’t ordinary either. The “automotively correct” term is “Crossover” for vehicles that join two styles or types. In this case the Axiom is a rendition of the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a passenger car. That means the consumer gets the utility of a truck and the comfort of a car. Avalanche does the best job of “Crossover” in my opinion.

Fit and Finish:

Solid – final assembly is Japan, best describes this new arrival to this wildly successful market segment. Nicely done and as good as the most expensive of the bunch.

Conveniences:

Typical and on the high end.

Cost:

Competitive as you can see from the prices of its rivals.

Recommendation:

I have no bent either for or against this carmakers product, but it is clearly as good as anything in its field. I definitely would include it in my comparison to determine what’s best for me.

The competition:

Isuzu Axiom $27-31,000, Chevrolet Trail Blazer $25-34,000, Dodge Durango $25-37,000, Ford Explorer $21-34,000, Jeep Grand Cherokee $25-37,000, Mitsubishi Montero Sport $23-33,000, Nissan Pathfinder $26-31,000, Toyota 4Runner $25-36,000.

Good News:

Futuristic styling, comfortable, classy and roomy interior, good standard equipment, priced very competitively, and a good warranty.

Bad News:

Poor gas mileage, narrow rear door, questionable styling, and traction control not available.

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter 230 horsepower V6 engine, 4-speed auto trans, dual air bags, child locks, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, tilt wheel, cruise control, power leather seats, FM radio with cassette and CD player, sunroof, alloy wheels.

Gas Stats:

16 City and 20 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $31,335.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com

2002 Mitsubishi Galant GTZ (379)

09-01-2002Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week I drove the Mitsubishi Galant GTZ 4-door sedan and it goes on my top ten list of cars I’d want to see my kids buy. But then kids don’t listen to parents all that much. Actually that’s not totally true. I was pleasantly surprised that daughter Jen decided to look at practical and affordable cars after our little heart to heart.

Now I just can’t wait to see if she buys that glitzy waste of money anyway.

Surely this is a quality option to the better-known cars like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Overall it is in my top 10 pick for sedans this year.

Huge conglomerate: Today, Mitsubishi companies are Japan’s industry leaders in several sectors, including marine transport, aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding, nuclear power engineering, waste treatment plants, satellites, defense contracting, glass, petrochemicals, oil products, beer, property and casualty insurance, and warehousing, among others. They are international and although the engine and trans are made in Japan, this Galant is built in Normal, Illinois, right here in the good old US of A.

Handling & Performance:

Very good.

Styling:

Common place but consistent with its cookie-cutter rivals.

Fit and Finish:

Very nice.

Conveniences:

As good as the rest.

Cost:

Good in the field of plenty.

Recommendation:

Well, take a good look at the competition. As I do here’s what I see. Oldsmobile has been discontinued, Pontiac is about to throw in the towel. Then when you consider newcomers to our auto market like Hyundai, the field narrows quickly.

So, knock out competitors as follows. On Price: Concorde, Impala, Intrepid, Maxima, Intrigue and Passat. And when you eliminate new to the market cars like Hyundai Sonata you end up with Galant, Taurus, Accord, Mazda 626, Legacy and Camry.

You will want to look at them all, but I like the Camry, Galant, and Legacy. I have tested the 2002 Camry and Galant and the 2001 Legacy and feel comfortable including it here based on track record. This is my order of preference.

The Competition:

Mitsubishi Galant $18-24,000, Chevrolet Impala $24-35,000, Chrysler Concorde $23-28,000, Dodge Intrepid $21-26,400, Ford Taurus $19-23,000, Honda Accord $15-25,000, Hyundai Sonata $15-18,000, Mazda 626 $19-23,000, Nissan Maxima $25-27,000, Oldsmobile Intrigue $23-28,000, Pontiac Grand Prix $21-26,000, Subaru Legacy $19-25,000, Toyota Camry $19-25,000, Volkswagen Passat $22-29,000.

Good News:

Priced and equipped well, it stands out as a quality competitor, you may be able to deal more than you can with the sales leaders and get just as good a car.

Bad News:

It lacks the good name Toyota has earned over the years.

Standard Equipment:

3.0 liter 195 horsepower V6 engine with 4-speed auto trans, dual front and side air bags, child safety locks, anti-theft immobilizer, anti-lock disc brake system, power steering, traction control, air conditioning, Infinity stereo with CD player, power locks, mirrors and windows, remote keyless entry, cruise control, adjustable steering column, lighted vanity mirrors and map lights, 8-way drivers power seat, leather trim, heater mirrors, fog lights and power glass sunroof.

Gas Stats:

20 City and 27 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $24,712.

2002 Suzuki Esteem Wagon (378)

02-01-2002Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2002 Suzuki Esteem Wagon GLX. I suspect our egos take us too far and away from good sense when it comes to buying a car. Saturn also puts out a nice low cost car but BMW, Mercedes Benz and the like mesmerize buyers. We buy beyond our need for transportation. While I was in Japan I got the distinct impression that people there buy cars for their utility. In fact, look at most countries other than the United States and you see how much they push the envelope on getting the most out of the cars they buy. If a carmaker says the truck will carry a 1-ton load you can bet your bippy the carmaker has underestimated the real potential by magnitudes.

Well, I guess my point is that this little wagon will deliver more utility per dollar than those heavy hitter Beemers and Benz’s. Look at the gas performance, repair costs, insurance and all the rest and if my kids didn’t buy something like this I’d be disappointed. Ok, so I’m disappointed.

When my family was young I always recommended that you buy a better-equipped, more luxurious used car than spending a lot of money on a new car that depreciated in value simply by driving it off the lot. Today the world has changed and technology is abundantly available and cheap! So, today I say buy new, but don’t buy the big name brands where too much of the price tag is for the nametag. The other advantage of buying new today, (because they are relatively cheaper), is that you don’t have to gamble on the mechanical roadworthiness of the purchase. You don’t want to inherit the problems the seller is dumping onto someone else. You just have too much to choose from at great prices and you get an uncontested warranty to boot.

Handling & Performance:

Just great, kids (do you think they’re listening?). How they get so much from a 1.8-liter engine is marvelous these days. And although I thought this little 4-cylinder engine was adequate for the car, I tested the VW Beetle with a Turbocharged 4-cylinder that put out 180 horsepower.

Styling:

More than “plain wrap” and that makes it competitive in this market segment, but why’d they think they needed the Roof End or rear roof spoiler? Well I guess they’re the designers, but I have to look at it and does it serve any real good purpose? I doubt this will be in any road races where aerodynamics is critical.

Fit and Finish:

Great for the dough.

Conveniences:

Well equipped for the money.

Cost:

Well priced.

Recommendation:

If you’re in the market for trouble free transportation for a young family this is a good choice. If you’re not interested in snob appeal this is a must drive option. The field of similar small wagons is limited so you should be able to test-drive them all. I’ve tested all and they are very close in my opinion, so it will come down to: 1. Is it big enough for your need? and 2. Which has the styling that suits your taste?

The competition:

Suzuki Esteem Wagon $17,374, Ford Focus Wagon $17-18,000, Mazda Protégé 5 $16,000, Saturn SW $14,000, Subaru Impreza Wagon $17-23,000.

Good News:

Well-priced, comfortable, economical gas miser, typical Japanese quality and odd looking roof end spoiler.

Bad News:

Will not boost your ego as it builds your bank account.

Standard Equipment:

1.8 liter inline 4-cylinder 120 horsepower engine, 4-speed auto trans, power steering and brakes, Roof End Spoiler, power sunroof, alloy wheels, child safety locks, remote keyless entry, power windows, locks and mirrors, rear defroster, tachometer, cruise control, air conditioning, audio system with cassette and CD and dual front airbags.

Gas Stats:

26 City and 33 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $17,374.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com

2002 Suzuki XL-7 (377)

21-12-2001Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week’s review is the Suzuki XL-7 mid size sport utility. It is affordable to buy and even a little better on gas consumption than other larger SUV’s. But like all 4-wheel drive vehicles you expect lower numbers here.

It is rather nice looking, has a beefier build than other Suzuki products and more powerful with a 2.7 liter V6 engine. It is a long stretch from the early days of the Samurai that scared me to drive. It is very unstable with a narrow track and high center of gravity. The little 2-door Vitara looks to be simply the renaming of an old dog, but I haven’t driven it. Memories are obviously lasting. I must admit however that Suzuki did help pave the way to more affordable SUV’s and that little Samurai put Suzuki on the map in the America.

Surely this second year model of the XL-7 is a nice addition and improvement in affordable mid size SUV’s on the market today. I believe as a family car the mini van is a better option to the SUV but some shy away from the accompanying “soccer mom” image of a van. Thus they go for the less fuel efficient SUV and 4-WD capability they will never use anyway. Go figure.

I heard it said that although the XL-7 doesn’t have a more prestigious nameplate it does a nice job of combining utility, comfort, performance and ruggedness. And of course I have to add, affordably.

Handling & Performance:

Performance is not bad for normal driving but if you push the limits you feel and hear the straining of the engine. It handles nicely and doesn’t have that top-heavy feeling of the Samurai that left its mark on my memory. It is also surprisingly comfortable and provides a smooth ride on good highways. Naturally it won’t handle those potholes as well as its larger, more expensive competitors.

Styling:

Very nice. This largest of the Suzuki fleet has clean and classy lines. Not what I had expected. The interior is also very comparable with most other SUV’s with much higher price tags.

Fit and Finish:

Very good. This will surprise you.

Conveniences:

Very good for the money.

Cost:

Because it is a mid size SUV that is roomy and comfortable, it is apparent you really don’t have to spend more money to get the job done. Very well priced.

Consumer Recommendation:

In the market for a Sport Utility? I would definitely include this XL-7 in my test drive line-up. Perhaps the closest competitor is the Mazda Tribute from the numbers but I like this XL-7 a little better.

Manufacturer Recommendations:

Generally a nice job. But for the US market put the hinges on the opposite side of the cargo door so it opens away from the curb for ease of loading and it’s safer too. I found little else to complain about.

The competition:

Chevrolet Tracker $16-22,000, Ford Escape $19-26,000, Mazda Tribute $18-24,000, Mitsubishi Montero Sport $23-33,000.

Good News:

Well-priced, nice styling, smooth ride, comfortable and affordable. Seats up to seven with third row seating.

Bad News:

Engine strains when pushed and a little noisy, rear door opens to the curb, but then they drive on the left side in Japan.

Standard Equipment:

2.7 liter 183 horsepower V6 engine, 4-speed auto trans, power brakes and steering, shift on the fly 4-wheel drive, air conditioning, stereo with CD player, power windows/locks and heated mirrors, cruise control, remote keyless entry, child safety locks, tilt steering wheel.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 20 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $21,799.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com

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